Gonzaga decides to stay in WCC after being courted by MW

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Gonzaga is staying in the West Coast Conference after being courted by the Mountain West.

Gonzaga athletic director Mike Roth told The Spokesman-Review that he and university president Thayne McCulloh met Monday to make the final decision on conference affiliation.

Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson in February acknowledged interest in adding Gonzaga, which does not play football but has one of the nation’s best basketball programs. Gonzaga has dominated the West Coast Conference in basketball for years and has regularly made the NCAA Tournament, playing in the final of the tournament in 2017.

The Mountain West could have offered better competition and possibly greater revenue. The WCC recently announced changes to its scheduling and revenue distribution models that Gonzaga officials have long desired.

Thompson, who recently was quoted as saying he did not expect Gonzaga to join, did not immediately request for comment from AP.

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